Courtesy photo
Joe Murray, Director of Public Affairs for Fidelity Investments, explains the difference between needs and wants to students at Canterbury Elementary School at one of the “I Can Save!” events offered by NH Jump$tart

MERRMACK – The New Hampshire Jump$tart Coalition and Fidelity Investments announced a new year-long partnership to promote financial literacy for the youth throughout the state through various teacher-driven programs and activities in 2013. The partnership marks the first sustaining partnership for N.H. Jump$tart Coalition and supports the existing financial education programs, which are a priority for Fidelity.

“Fidelity’s sustaining partnership will support our ongoing effort to help enable a generation of young adults to take advantage of the opportunities offered by an increasingly complex financial services system,” said Daniel Hebert, NH Jump$tart President. “We are very grateful for Fidelity’s continued support of students, teachers and our mission.”

Through Fidelity’s partnership and $15,000 grant, various financial education programs and activities will be supported, including: — LifeSmarts for students – high school teachers assemble teams of students to compete in the content knowledge areas of personal finance, investing and consumerism — MoneySmarts for teachers – the only statewide professional development conference for teachers specifically devoted to personal finance — The “I Can Save!” Tour – second grade teachers from NH elementary schools arrange for presentations to their students on the differences between needs and wants — Get 10 Virtual Quest – an online scavenger hunt that teachers include in their lesson plans. Students and their teachers are eligible for prizes if the student answers all ten questions successfully in their quest

“Fidelity and its employee volunteers care deeply about giving back to the communities where they live and work, and that is evident in our partnership with Jump$tart,” said Joe Murray, director of public affairs, Fidelity Investments. “We are committed to education, especially financial education, and know that helping these students learn basic financial concepts will contribute to their success in the future, both in school and personally.”

Hebert explained that “the vast majority of young adults are not learning about sound money management, at home, in our schools, or anywhere. We owe it to our children to provide this fundamental life skill in an accurate, consistent, and accessible manner.”

NH Jump$tart is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization created in 2000 and dedicated to improving the personal financial education of students throughout New Hampshire. More information is available on its web site: http://www.nhjumpstart.org